India’s hunger score improves to 24.1, child wasting still a challenge
In the Global Hunger Index (GHI) 2026, India was ranked 100th out of 122 countries. The nation continues to be categorised as having ‘serious’ hunger severity, a classification it has maintained continuously since 2012, with an overall score of 24.1.
The report, "No security without food security," indicates that the country's progress has slowed down overall. While stunting and undernourishment indices showed favorable declines, child wasting statistics increased, creating opposing momentum across important developmental parameters.
India's current score, up two spots from its previous ranking of 102 out of 123 nations last year, reflects a wider regional slowdown. Comparative analyses reveal that, in comparison to the unprecedented advances made between 2006 and 2012, the rate of improvement in national scores has considerably reduced.
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Indicator performance
“India’s GHI score, considered serious since 2012, mirrors the regional slowdown, with the score easing from 25.8 in 2018 to 24.1 in 2026. This represents a fraction of its steep improvement of 8.2 points between 2006 and 2012,” states the report.
Across individual parameters, undernourishment eased to 9.8% in 2026 from 10.5% in the preceding reference period. The rate of child stunting fell to 29.3%, moving from a very high rate to a high rate for the first time.
Regional standings
However, the average rate of child wasting increased from 16.9 to 19.0%, the highest in South Asia. India had the highest child-wasting rate in the world for the period 2021-2025, followed by Timor-Leste at 18.5%, Sudan at 18.1%)and Yemen at 16.8%.
India was significantly ahead of Pakistan at 25.5, Timor-Leste, Papua New Guinea and Afghanistan and behind Lao and Bangladesh in a regional comparison. In South Asia, the average was 23.4 compared to the global average of 18.1.
The report also refers to monsoon forecasts, saying El Niño is intensifying and a deficient 2026 southwest monsoon is likely. The India Meteorological Department has predicted a 60% chance of below normal rainfall in the Monsoon Core Zone which includes the major rainfed agriculture belt.